The Problem With the 4-3-3

“That’s the problem with the 4-3-3,” says O’Brien, who played 32 times for the United States and spent more than a decade in Dutch soccer. “You’re pretty exposed and so if you don’t keep the ball, you’re definitely very open for counters. Part of the 4-3-3 is getting used to knowing that when you’re possessing the ball, you’re ready in case the guy turns it over.

“That has to be ingrained a little bit more, what to do in transition. You’re on offense but you’re still thinking defensively. Once you lose it, in that formation you need to be able to press the ball right away and be tight to guys, because you’re so open.”

Good article, but the discussion in the comment thread is better. And, for what it's worth, this is the same struggle my United team is having in FM2012 with a shifting variety of 4-5-1/4-3-3 formations. We're plugging away in the top half of the table, but breakdowns in transition play have cost us points that would see us well clear at the top.